November 15, 2025
The Grand Theatre, Downtown Calgary
SALINGPUSA is proud to present the inaugural ASWANGCON: FILIPINO FOLKLORE FESTIVAL which will be held on November 15, 2025, Saturday, at the historic Grand Theatre at the heart of downtown Calgary.
SALINGPUSA is a Calgary-based Filipino arts non-profit that champions Filipino artistic excellence and cultural distinction.
AswangCon: Filipino Folklore Festival is a celebration of that most cherished aspect of our Filipino culture. Filipino folkloric stories about diwatas, aswang and epic heroes have remained a vital part of the Filipino cultural consciousness despite centuries of colonial suppression and westernization. This festival seeks to reconnect Filipinos to their ancestral heritage and to educate non-Filipinos on the splendours of our folkloric traditions.
Want to be a part of AswangCon? Read on!
ARTISTS
We are looking to exhibit pieces by 12 Filipino-identifying artists working in visual arts–painting, graphic design, photography, textiles, drawing, and mixed media. Exhibit duration will be from October 28 to November 30, 2025. Selected artists will also have the opportunity to have their pieces exhibited at the Philippine Consulate General Calgary premises.
Criteria for artworks:
- Pieces must contain a strong Filipino folklore theme featuring creatures, deities, and epic heroes of Filipino mythology.
- Subject folkloric characters must be clearly portrayed and easily visualized by the viewer.
- Artwork must be original, not a derivative nor a copy of another artist’s work and will not, in any way, infringe another artist’s copyright.
- Artwork should measure 30 inches by 40 inches or larger
- Artwork must be ready to hang on the wall, and must come with D-rings and braided hanging wire already attached.
- Artwork must be completed and ready for transport to the venue by October 27.
- Artwork will need to be covered by the artist’s insurance
- Other particulars of the exhibit will be provided to accepted submissions.
Deadline to apply: Friday, October 10, 2025.
VENDORS
We are looking for vendors selling merchandise that are folklore-themed or have strong Filipino sensibilities. There are 10 spots available for the event. Examples of preferred non-folklore themed merchandise: bayong bags, trinkets, garments, greeting cards, accessories. The AswangCon organizers will aim to present a good mix of vendors to festival goers.
Table fee is $5 for half a table, and $10 for a full table. One spot only per merchant.
Deadline to apply: Friday, October 10, 2025.
COSPLAYERS
Join and show off your Filipino folklore cosplay. The competitor who will be judged as best cosplay will win a cash prize, a gift certificate and bragging rights as the winner of the first ever AswangCon Cosplay Competition. There will be three (3) judges during the competitions. This will be a walk-on competition.
Deadline to apply: Friday, October 10, 2025.
